Why I love underrated seaside city tourists miss in rush to get to Cornwall

Posted by author June 23, 2024 Travel

I was lucky enough to grow up in Cornwall, a beautiful part of Britain which attracts an estimated five million visitors a year.

Many of these millions will drive straight past the oft-derided destination I’ve grown to love and am proud to now call home. They’re missing a real treat, because Britain’s much-maligned ‘Ocean City’, Plymouth, has been named the UK’s most underrated place to visit

For a start, Plymouth – or the Mighty ‘Muff as it’s affectionately called by some – is literally surrounded by Areas of Oustanding Natural Beauty, National Parks and nature reserves. To the south, the city keeps watch over the calm seas of Plymouth Sound – which is the UK’s first National Marine Park. To the north, it gazes out over Dartmoor’s dramatic tors.

Look westwards, and there’s not just the River Tamar with its iconic bridges and its verdant valley AONB – and there’s also the Rame Heritage Coast to the city’s south west. And, on Plymouth’s eastern border, there is the similarly glorious South Devon Coast and Landscape AONB.

If it’s city life and culture that you’re after, Plymouth has also got you covered. It’s home to fantastic food and drink offerings to suit all budgets, vibrant nightlife and top-notch performing arts productions thanks to the Theatre Royal – which is the largest and best-attended regional producing theatre in the UK.

Despite all this, Plymouth suffers from a bit of an image problem. For a start, many people still mistake this unique and unassuming city-by-the-sea for Portsmouth.

(Image: Getty)

RFA tankers at HMNB Devonport

Much like its South Coast sibling, Plymouth is home to a Royal Navy base, dockyards and has a proud maritime heritage. However, it’s actually a five-hour train ride away from Hampshire’s naval haven… and, instead of Dorset and Sussex, it has the rest of Devon and, of course, Cornwall – on its doorstep.

While Plymouth’s proximity to these much-loved holiday destinations is undoubtedly an asset, it could also be part of its image problem – as it does get a bit over-shadowed by these staycation big-hitters. It’s also often unfairly disparaged by its neighbours living in these arguably more auspicious surroundings.

(Image: Getty)